# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 4) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 22, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678 "2025-02-22T21:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 243
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4841 "2026-06-18T17:38:06Z")
Here’s a list the author of the above book found for names of the @ sign: > Stabile’s search for the birth of @ started with an analysis of the symbol’s various names. An online survey conducted in 1997 revealed that the symbol went by a multitude of names across thirty-seven different countries, many of them inspired by its shape: snabel-a, or “(elephant’s) trunk-a” in Danish and Swedish; apestaart, or “monkey’s tail” in Dutch; zavinác, or “rollmop herring” in Czech and Slovak; Klammeraffe, or “spider monkey” in German; strudel, or a roll-shaped bun, in Hebrew; kukac, or “worm” in Hungarian; grisehale, or “pig’s tail” in Norwegian, and gül, or “rose” in Turkish. French and Italian have both formal terms—respectively arobase, an archaic unit of weight, and anfora, or “amphora”—and also the more whimsical escargot and chiocciola, both meaning “snail.” English deploys the cheerlessly direct “commercial at” or, simply, “at sign.”32 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4842 "2026-06-18T17:42:00Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > > English deploys the cheerlessly direct “commercial at” or, simply, “at sign.” We need to step up our game for fucks’ sake. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4843 "2026-06-18T17:45:27Z")
Given the thread maybe we should put a pin in that lest we rename every punctuation symbol a “Trump”. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4844 "2026-06-18T17:50:14Z")
I’m okay with a “Trump” symbol. It could look like an orange poop emoji. Journalists can use it right before any statement that they know is full of shit. So, for example, when JD Vance spouts off another lie demonizing a group of immigrants, just put a Trump symbol right before his quote in an article. This will help with the problem of news sources uncritically reporting on statements from the administration and “sanewashing” them in the process. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4845 "2026-06-18T19:33:25Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > We need to step up our game for fucks’ sake I propose we call it the “dingleberry”. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4846 "2026-06-18T19:40:09Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I propose we call it the “dingleberry”. You know… That actually fits its appearance. I approve. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4847 "2026-06-18T19:43:36Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > We need to step up our game for fucks’ sake. There’s a computer language called INTERCAL, which is, in a way, an elaborate, functional practical joke. The manual includes rather whimsical names for most of the unusual character symbols. @ is ‘whirlpool’. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I propose we call it the “dingleberry”. Are you sure about that, @Just_Asking_Questions ? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4848 "2026-06-18T19:46:41Z")
As sure as I’m sittin’ here. [flush] ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4849 "2026-06-18T20:02:12Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > There’s a computer language called INTERCAL, which is, in a way, an elaborate, functional practical joke. It’s so elaborate that it was years after it was introduced before it was actually proven that it was, in fact, functional. And the proof was actually by way of a different programming language named “brainfuck”. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4850 "2026-06-19T00:16:35Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > That kid always creeped me out. > > I was apparently not the only one. Just as creepy as the Shake N Bake kid kid: > **[Must See TV Moments on Instagram: "The 1968 Shake & Bake® ad from Kraft is...](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY5VSJ7Rfh-/)** > > 128K likes, 5,860 comments - mustseetvmoments on May 28, 2026: "The 1968 Shake & Bake® ad from Kraft is one of those vintage commercials that instantly transports you back to a different era of home cooking. Before microwaves, meal kits, or digital... ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4851 "2026-06-21T04:20:11Z")
Nancy Mace, human-like embarrassment. > > > Rep. Nancy Mace @RepNancyMace ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4852 "2026-06-21T04:21:42Z")
> **[Clarifying Misinformation About “Transgender Mice” in Research - Americans...](https://www.amprogress.org/research-news/2025/03/clarifying-misinformation-about-transgender-mice-in-research/)** > > March 12, 2025 Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) issued statement today to correct misinformation circulating about "transgender mice" in research. Recent claims about federally funded research on “transgender mice” are inaccurate and misleading.... ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4853 "2026-06-21T08:19:16Z")
Former semirelevant politician Kristi Noem, now known as the _Special Envoy to the Shield of the Americas_, was given a softball question during a recent interview on Newsmax. She proceeded to swing and miss. Twice. Greta Van Susteren [asked her who America’s best friends were in South America.](https://nypost.com/2026/06/14/us-news/kristi-noem-makes-embarrassing-geography-blunder-when-asked-about-south-american-allies/). Noem named 4 counties. Only two of them are in South America. Said Noem: > [@](#): > > Well, we’ve worked so much with El Salvador and migration issues and third country agreements. But also Ecuador’s been fantastic; we did a joint operation with them with the Department of War against the cartels in their country…We work very well with Argentina; their economic policies line up with ours. Costa Rica’s been fantastic; they have a new president…she’s going to be a great leader for us as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4854 "2026-06-21T14:42:42Z")
Any country south of the U.S. is in South America, right? You know, all those Mexican countries. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4855 "2026-06-21T15:01:56Z")
Brought to you by the man that was recently told how to spell dumb. And he is proud that he now knows how to spell dumb, because few people can spell it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4856 "2026-06-22T01:38:00Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > gül, or “rose” in Turkish. That is so quintessentially Turkish that it says a lot. The only more Turkish flower than a rose would be a tulip. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4857 "2026-06-22T04:47:17Z")
[Missing pubby officeholder returns.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/gop-congressman-missing-months-set-185819689.html) > [@](#): > > Washington — Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey will return to Congress on June 30, his spokesperson said, after being away since March in an unexplained absence that has confounded Capitol Hill. > > “Congressman Kean is eager to return to in person work on June 30 and resume a full schedule,” Kean’s spokesperson, Harrison Neely, told CBS News on Thursday. The New Jersey Globe [first reported](https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/tom-kean-will-return-to-congress-on-june-30/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) on his return date. > > Kean’s whereabouts since he last voted on March 5 have not been disclosed. When he first [made a statement](https://x.com/KeanForCongress/status/2048871625525760161?s=20?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) about the absence in late April, the New Jersey Republican said he was addressing a “personal medical issue.” > > Kean said earlier this month that he would return to Washington [within a matter of weeks](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-kean-absent-washington-return-to-work-within-weeks/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17), at which point he would provide more details about his health. > > “Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition,” Kean said in a June 2 [statement](https://x.com/keanforcongress/status/2061916213865779395?s=46?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) released by his campaign.Washington — Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey will return to Congress on June 30, his spokesperson said, after being away since March in an unexplained absence that has confounded Capitol Hill. > > “Congressman Kean is eager to return to in person work on June 30 and resume a full schedule,” Kean’s spokesperson, Harrison Neely, told CBS News on Thursday. The New Jersey Globe [first reported](https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/tom-kean-will-return-to-congress-on-june-30/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) on his return date. > > Kean’s whereabouts since he last voted on March 5 have not been disclosed. When he first [made a statement](https://x.com/KeanForCongress/status/2048871625525760161?s=20?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) about the absence in late April, the New Jersey Republican said he was addressing a “personal medical issue.” > > Kean said earlier this month that he would return to Washington [within a matter of weeks](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-kean-absent-washington-return-to-work-within-weeks/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17), at which point he would provide more details about his health. > > “Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition,” Kean said in a June 2 [statement](https://x.com/keanforcongress/status/2061916213865779395?s=46?ftag=YHF4eb9d17) released by his campaign. Please tell me the medical issue is his transitioning. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4858 "2026-06-22T04:55:31Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Please tell me the medical issue is his transitioning. …from human to his natural [reptilian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilian_conspiracy_theory) form. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4859 "2026-06-22T04:59:47Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Please tell me the medical issue is his transitioning. First thing that popped into my head. Almost expected, in this timeline. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/4860 "2026-06-22T05:14:25Z")
I was thinking conversion therapy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=242) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=244)